Holidays are nearly there, only 29 days lef... I have decedid to plan the activities and the things we are going to do in Los Angeles , so I need your help.
My children one is 17 and the other one is 11, my husband and I will be arriving in LA on the 30 of this month at 10 oclock in the evening and we are staying there for three nights, so I would like you to give me advises and suggestions of how to plan the days we are there. Do you think it is worth a visit to Universal Studios? Can I take a half a day visit? What do you think?
Probably I have more question but this is just a way to start. Thanks a lot for all your help.

If you like the movies and are star struck, then Universal Hollywood Tours is for you/ It just lost the King Kong portion of the tour, today, due to a massive fire. Several street sets were also lost including the town square from the movie "Back to the Future". Also, in Hollywood is the walk of fame with recognition for stars of all media. The Chinese Theatre with the hand prints, footprints, and autographs of major movie stars. The large Kodak Theatre (Oscar Award night) and the Hollywood-Highland Center are almost next door. Day time could take you down to Disneyland or Knott's Berry Farm or to the beach in Santa Monica with the Third Street Promenade and the pier with a new ferris wheel and Malibu with surfers. Shopping is everywhere from Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive to Wilshire Blvd and the Grove Shopping Center and The Farmers Market. Also the La Brea Tarpits and the LA County Art Museum. Further west, between Santa Monica and Beverly Hills is the spectacular Getty Museum high on a hill overlooking much of the west side. Or downtown for tourist destinations like Olvera Street, Little Toyoko, Chinatown and the jewelry and clothing marts. Nearby is the Griffith Observatory with a view of downtown LA. Lots to see and do, so little time.

I have a lot of recomendations on my LA travel page. There's a lot of stuff to do here in LA County but along comes with it, is what can you afford to spend? Universal Studios is a lot of fun if you have never been and it's expensive. To spend 1/2 a day might not be worth it. Knotts Berry Farm might be a better alternative for a 1/2 day excursion because the price is better but you can easily spend all day there, too! Anyway, checking out my travel page will provide many other suggestions.

Thank you. My budget is not very big but I can afford to do a few visits. I have read your post and things are a bit nore clear.How long does it take to go to Hollywood and Beverly Hills, is it possible to visit them in a day? Any other suggestion for the same day?
Do you any place around where local go and have something for lunch or dinner? I mean nice food and not very expensive.

Hollywood and Beverly Hills are near each other, so yes they can both be done in one day. From Hollywood, take Fairfax Blvd. south to 3rd St. and the Farmers Market. There are many restaurant stalls at lunch time and the prices are not that expensive. It is fun to see everything in the Farmers Market and next to is the very upscale "Grove" shopping center. Beverly Hills is to the west, taking Wilshire Blvd, a couple of blocks south of 3rd off Fairfax.

Just one more question. Is it possible to go to San Diego and come back from lA on the same day? What is the best route? Any interesting places to see on the way?Many thanks for all your advice

LA to San Diego is possible but not advisable. It is a 120 mile drive one way. Say it takes 2 - 2 1/2 hours to drive one way and if in traffic add more time. That is at least 5 hours on the road on one of the most busy freeways in the country. You say 3 days in LA. Keep it that way or you will see less than more. Not much you can do on the way down to San Diego if you want to spend time there. And, not much you can do in 1/2 day.

If you have the opportunity, on July 2nd, try to catch the Fireworks Spectacular at the Hollywood Bowl. It's a great evening of music, fireworks, and enjoyment of L.A.'s great weather. Ticket prices range from very expensive (more than $100) to very affordable (about $3-$8 for the bleacher seats). The more affordable seats, in fact, are better for viewing the fireworks show and usually really fun. You bring a picnic dinner and enjoy the evening under the stars. It's the quintessential L.A. evening thing to enjoy. Take the Metro to Hollywood, spend the afternoon there, grab some food at the local stores, and catch a shuttle up the hill to the Bowl. Can't go wrong.

www.hollywoodbowl.com

Thanks a lot! I think you are right, five hours in a car it is not my idea of holidays. It sounds really good to see the exhibition of fireworks on the 2nd of July.Is the El Hollywood Bowl an open theatre? Is it very far from where we are staying? ( Angeleno in Brentwood ) ? Which seats do you suggest me to buy? DO I have to buy it in advantage ? Is it dangerous to go with my children? Thanks a lot, this is the sort of thing I like to know and do when I go abroad things that you usually do, not the typical things for tourists. Of course I like to see all new places but I also like these sorts of entertainments

No, it is not that far to the Hollywood Bowl. Make sure you can get tickets and any ticket will do. They will have fireworks on the 2,3, 4th of July and it is an open sky seating bowl. Bring a sweater and a blanket. It can get cold at night. We're talking fireworks in the sky. See their website for tickets: http://www.hollywoodbowlcom/
Check out the website: http://www. mapquest.com/ to see how far everything is to where you are staying. This will familiarize you with the city. Have fun in LA. I love LA!

One more thing. Yes, buy your tickets in advance. It does sell out. It is very safe at the Hollywood Bowl and very crowded.

Hi,

Another question , is it better to go there with the bus that the Hollywood Bowl put there or is it easier to take the car? Any other suggestion.
Thanks a lot

I always drive. the parking is heavy and takes a while to get in and out. If you go by bus, they line up near the entrance and get you out fast. For a visitor, if a bus is handy to the Bowl, take the bus. They do have parking in North Hollywood for cars and then you take a bus to the Bowl. Their website should have all that info on it.

If you have a rental car, park in one of the Park and Ride lots and take the shuttle bus in. Or, drive to the Hollywood and Highland shopping center, park there, spend the afternoon seeing the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Graumman's Chinese Theatre, catch the "Forever Hollywood" screening at The Egyptian Theatre in the afternoon or if the kids are interested, the latest show and film at El Capitan Theatre, and then just take the shuttle from Hollywood and Highland up the hill to the Hollywood Bowl. That way, you get to see "Hollywood" for a few hours, then enjoy the evening (yes, it's an open-air venue) at the Bowl. Really, it is a great L.A. thing to do in the summer. The kids will love it.

Once more thanks a lot for your help and ideas. I have been thing trying M, or N, what do you think? In case the cheapest seats go mainly for young people that like drinking. I´m a bit afraid of security.
I have tried to buy the ticket but I have a problem because I´m not from the States they said something like to get my tickets:


Customers in Other Countries





Customers in Other Countries: by Will Call US $2.50 For International Orders Only - Tickets held at Will Call can only be retrieved by the cardholder with original credit card of purchase and a valid photo ID with signature such as a government issued ID, driver's license or passport.






So is it not possible for me printing the tickets? I´m sorry about asking such silly questions but I don´t know how things work there? Can anyone explain to me what do I have to do and what does it means?

By the way can you name supermarkets and shops that have a good price to buy?


Thank you

Will call means that you bring the printout to the ticket office/box office and they should have a sign for Will Call. Bring a copy of the printout and whatever else they request and they will give you the tickets. It's a fairly typical procedure for picking up tickets in the US but bring the printout in case they can't find your record.

Ralphs and Vons are two of the big supermarket chains, if you are planning on going there frequently, both have frequent shopper programs, some will give you the discount without the card or you can apply on the spot for a card (I gave them a relative's address, I suppose you can give them the address of your hotel or it's quite possible that they don't care).

Perhaps you can contact the concierge at the Hotel Angeleno and they can arrange to purchase and have the tickets for you when you arrive. It will cost you (tip), but maybe worth it if you are outside the U.S. and want to ensure that you get the tickets you want. Sections M and N are nice. For fireworks spectaculars, I think mid to far seats are best for maximum fireworks viewing. I attended a performance of "Carmina Burana" that had a fireworks show along with it; the musical performance was incredible, but I was in a box seat which was a treat, but when it came to the fireworks, we couldn't see the full effect and really had to bend our necks to look straight up. Also, some of the fireworks felt so close that I was afraid my eyebrows were going to burn off. Definitely the M and N "Super Seats" section would be great for a nice experience to fully enjoy the audio and visual effects of the evening.

I have got my tickets. Thank you to you all.